2017 Mercedes-Benz SPRINTER 3500: complaints, problems and recalls

SPRINTER COMPLETELY LOST ELECTRICAL POWER, ENGINE AND DRIVE TRAIN PROPULSION. THE TACH AND SPEEDOMETER FROZE IN PLACE AT 2500 RPM AND 15MPH. 60 SECONDS PASSED AND THE DASH LIGHTS BLINKED AND THEN ALLOWED ME TO RESTART VEHICLE. IT WAS LIKE THE SYSTEM RE-BOOTED ITSELF. LUCKILY I WAS NOT AT SPEED OR IN A DRIVING LANE WHEN THIS HAPPENED. I HAD JUST FILLED THE TANK WITH DIESEL, MY DEF WAS AT 80% FULL AND I WAS DEPARTING THE SERVICE STATION. I WAS ABLE TO START VEHICLE AND RETURN HOME, 10 MILES. WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AT HOME THE…

Owner-reported narrative. 12,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11185622 at NHTSA ↗

THE RECALL HAS BEEN EFFECT SINCE 2013. AND YOUR NOTIFING MY NOW IN 2019 !?! WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU PEOPLE!!

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11191008 at NHTSA ↗

THIS IS A FOLLOW-UP TO MY COMPLAINT OF AUGUST 27 2018, NHTSA NUMBER 11122749. I PREVIOUSLY REPORTED THE DATES AND CIRCUMSTANCES OF 3 WHEEL (RIMS) FAILURES DUE TO A CRACKED WELD WHERE THE TWO PIECES OF THE RIM ARE JOINED, CAUSING AIR TO LEAK AND TIRES TO DEFLATE. ON APRIL 12, 2019, I HAD ANOTHER FLAT TIRE DUE TO THE SAME REASONS AS STATED IN MY PREVIOUS REPORT, A WELD IN THE RIM THAT FAILED TO HOLD AIR. THUS FAR, FOUR OF THE SEVEN WHEELS/RIMS ON MY VEHICLE HAVE FAILED OVER AN 8 MONTH PERIOD AND 6500 MILES. DURING MOST OF THIS PERIOD THE VEHI…

Owner-reported narrative. 10,582 miles reported. Look up ODI 11195899 at NHTSA ↗

I HAVE A 2018 THOR SIESTA MOTOR HOME BUILT ON A MERCEDES BENZ 3500 CHASSIS. I WENT ON A 6700 MILE CROSS COUNTRY TRIP AND UPON RETURN FOUND THE FRONT PASSENGER TIRE FLAT. A LOCAL SHOP DISCOVERED THAT THE RIM WAS LEAKING AIR FROM A BAD WELD SPOT/CRACK ON THE INSIDE. I REPLACED THE RIM BACK ON MAY 27, 2019. I THEN WENT ON A 1000 MILE ROUND TRIP AND THE FOLLOWING DAY I NOTICED ANOTHER FLAT TIRE THIS TIME ON THE INSIDE REAR DUAL ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. MY LOCAL SHOP CONFIRMED THE SAME ISSUE WITH A WELD/CRACK ON THE INSIDE OF THE RIM ON MAY 29, 2019. …

Owner-reported narrative. 11,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11230366 at NHTSA ↗

BODY PARTS ARE FALLING OF FOR RUNNING BOARDS, PARTS HAVE FALLEN OFF ON THE HIGHWAY AND HIT OTHER VEHICLES. DEALER UNABLE TO FIND PARTS TO RESOLVE ISSUE.

Owner-reported narrative. 25,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11292401 at NHTSA ↗

WHEEL SPEED SENSOR FAILURE. ABS, TRACTION CONTROL SIT DOWN UNTIL REPLACED SENSOR.

Owner-reported narrative. 29,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11319376 at NHTSA ↗

I PURCHASED A 2017 RV (17,00 MI) MERCEDES BENZ CHASSIS IN DEC 2019 AND IN FEB 2020 WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM A CAMPING TRIP (55 MPH HIGHWAY) THE WARNING LIGHT COME ON AND VEHICLE WAS SURGING. I LOOKED UP THE ISSUE (WHEEL SENSOR FAILURE) AND SLOWLY DROVE HOME. GOT APP WITH MB DEALER AND REAR SENSOR REPLACEMENT MADE UNDER WARRENTRY. I TALKED WITH PREVIOUS OWNER AND WAS GIVEN THE HISTORY OF REAR WHEEL SENSOR FAILURES WITH THIS RV. BELOW IS HIS RECORD NOV 2018 (12,00 MI) BOTH REAR WHEEL SENSOR FAILURES AND REPLACED. APRIL 2019 REAR WHEEL SENSOR FAI…

Owner-reported narrative. 17,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11322814 at NHTSA ↗

TRAVELING ON I-95 WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL SET AT 70 MPH. SUDDENLY THE VEHICLE DECELERATED AND THREE WARNING LIGHTS (ABS, TRACTION & THE ACCELERATION SKID CONTROL / ELECTRONIC BRAKING ASSIST) CAME ON THE DASH. THE VEHICLE FELT SLUGGISH AND THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NO LONGER WORK. THERE ARE ONLY 21,200+ MILES ON THE VEHICLE AND THIS WAS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION FOR MY FAMILY AND I WHILE TRAVELING ON THE INTERSTATE.

Owner-reported narrative. 20,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 11342776 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2017-11-21 (November 21, 2017)

Daimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling certain 2017 Mercedes-Benz and Freightliner Sprinter 2500 and 3500 vans. The spare tire holder under the vehicle may not be properly secured.

Consequence: If the spare tire holder is not properly secured, the spare tire may separate from the vehicle and become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: DVUSA will notify owners and dealers will lift the spare tire holder completely and tighten the securing screws as necessary, free of charge. The manufacturer has not yet provided a notification schedule. Owners may contact DVUSA custom service at 1-854-888-3214.

Reported: 2017-12-08 (December 8, 2017)

Midwest Automotive Designs, LLC (Midwest) is recalling certain Custom Vans and Camper Van recreational vehicles built on 2014-2017 Mercedes Benz Sprinter chassis and 2016-2017 RAM Promaster chassis. These vehicles are equipped with Kidde Plastic-Handle or Push Button 'Pindicator' fire extinguishers that may become clogged, preventing the extinguisher from discharging as expected or excessive force may be needed to activate the extinguisher. Additionally, in certain models, the nozzle may detach from the valve assembly with enough force that it could cause injury and also render the product inoperable. For a full list of the affected fire extinguisher models visit: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2017/RMISC-17E062-5427.pdf

Consequence: In the event of a fire, if the fire extinguisher does not function properly, it can increase the risk of injury.

Remedy: Midwest will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fire extinguisher with a different brand, free of charge. The recall began on December 11, 2017. Owners may contact Kidde customer service for their replacement extinguisher at 1-855-262-3540, or online at www.kidde.com and click on "Product Safety Recall" for more information.

Reported: 2017-12-14 (December 14, 2017)

Daimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling certain 2017 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500 and Freightliner Sprinter 3500 vehicles equipped with the Crosswind Assist function. In the event of strong crosswind, automatic brake interventions by the vehicle dynamics control system (ADAPTIVE ESP) might not be activated.

Consequence: If Crosswind Assist system does not activate the automatic braking system as expected in the event of a strong crosswind, there would be an increased risk of a crash.

Remedy: DVUSA will notify owners, and dealers will update the ESP control unit with corrected software, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin in January 2018. Owners may contact DVUSA customer service at 1-854-888-3214.

Reported: 2018-02-15 (February 15, 2018)

Daimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling certain 2016-2017 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500 and Sprinter 3500 vehicles, equipped with folding seats (sales code S20). The unloaded vehicle weight (UVW) label on these incomplete vehicles may be incorrect.

Consequence: The incorrect UVW label can result in final stage manufacturers exceeding the maximum vehicle weight once the vehicle is completed. A vehicle that exceeds its maximum weight has an increased risk of a crash.

Remedy: DVUSA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the UVW label and inspect the vehicle to make sure that it is not overloaded, free of charge. The recall began on April 3, 2018. Owners may contact DVUSA customer service at 1-877-762-8267.

Reported: 2018-05-03 (May 3, 2018)

Daimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling certain 2017 Mercedes-Benz and Freightliner Sprinter 2500 and 3500 vehicles. These vehicles may be missing spot welds on the front side wall, connecting the door portal to the hinge reinforcements in the A-pillar area, possibly affecting vehicle strength in a crash.

Consequence: If the missing welds affect body strength, there may be an increased risk of injury in the event of a crash.

Remedy: DVUSA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicles and add any missing spot welds, free of charge. The recall began on July 2, 2018. Owners may contact DVUSA customer service at 1-877-762-8267.

Reported: 2019-01-08 (January 8, 2019)

Daimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling certain 2015-2017 Freightliner Sprinter 2500 and 3500 and Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500 and 3500 vehicles. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the driver frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver frontal air bag, these inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.

Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: DVUSA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front driver air bag module, free of charge. The recall is began March 15, 2019. Owners may contact DVUSA customer service at 1-877-762-8267.

Reported: 2019-01-08 (January 8, 2019)

Daimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling certain 2014-2017 Freightliner Sprinter 2500 and 3500 and Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500 and 3500 vehicles. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.

Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: DVUSA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag module, free of charge. The recall began March 15, 2019. Owners may contact DVUSA customer service at 1-877-762-8267.

Reported: 2020-10-28 (October 28, 2020)

Daimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling certain 2015-2020 Mercedes Benz Sprinter and Freightliner Sprinter vehicles. The hydraulic power steering return line hoses may detach at their connection points under certain operating conditions, causing hydraulic fluid to leak.

Consequence: The sudden loss of power steering assist and hydraulic steering fluid leaking onto the roadway may increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy: DVUSA will notify owners, and dealers will check the return line connections of the power steering system, correcting it as needed, free of charge. The recall began December 23, 2020. Owners may contact DVUSA customer service at 1-877-762-8267. DVUSA's number for this campaign is NV3LETULPE.

Reported: 2021-02-03 (February 3, 2021)

Daimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling certain 2012-2018 Mercedes Benz Sprinter 3500 and Freightliner Sprinter 3500 vehicles upfitted into campers or recreational vehicles. The Electronic Stability Control (ESC) unit may become disabled on these vehicles.

Consequence: If ESC becomes disabled, vehicle driving stability may be impacted under certain driving conditions, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: DVUSA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear-wheel speed sensor with a more robust sensor, free of charge. DVUSA issued owners an interim notification on March 10, 2021. Owners may contact DVUSA customer service at 1-877-762-8267. DVUSA's number for this recall is NC3DREZAHA.